Potrzebie is a Polish word popularized by its non sequitur use as a running gag in the early issues of Mad not long after the comic book began in 1952.
In Bernard Krigstein's "From Eternity Back to Here!" (Mad 12) the word "Potrzebie" made an early Mad appearance, flying over Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr, and a caricature of Jacques Tati in Mr. Hulot's Holiday. The issue is dated June 1954, the same month the 1953 Tati film had a U.S. release.
Fourth appearance of the word in Jack Davis's "Book! Movie!" (Mad #13)
Mad is an American humor magazine first published in 1952. It was founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines, launched as a comic book series before it became a magazine. It was widely imitated and influential, affecting satirical media, as well as the cultural landscape of the 20th century, with editor Al Feldstein increasing readership to more than two million during its 1973–1974 circulation peak.
Cover of the August 2017 issue
Harvey Kurtzman's cover for Mad No. 1 (cover-dated Oct./Nov. 1952)
With issue 24 (July 1955), Mad switched to a magazine format. The "extremely important message" was "Please buy this magazine!".
Actor Michael Biehn autographing a copy of Mad No. 268 (Jan. 1987), which parodies Biehn's film Aliens
